しかしながら
However, Nevertheless, But
Structure
Explanation
The particle ながら ('while', 'although') can be attached to the conjunction しかし ('however') to form a new word that functions as a more emphatic conjunction or, in some cases, an adverb. しかしながら is most often translated as 'however' or 'nevertheless', but it carries more weight than しかし on its own.
To better grasp the nuance of this grammar point, it can be helpful to think of it as 'be that as it may...' or 'while that is true...'. Much like in English, extending the phrase in Japanese adds a layer of emphasis to the overall statement.
しかしながら is most commonly found at the start of a sentence, where it serves to contrast the new information with a statement that has just been made by the speaker or another person.
- 天気予報では晴れだと言っていた。しかしながら、雨が降っている。The weather forecast said it would be sunny. However, it's currently raining.
- テストのために一生懸命勉強しました。しかしながら、結果はよくありませんでした。I studied as hard as I could for the test. Nevertheless, the results weren't very good.
- このパソコンはとても高性能です。しかしながら、値段もかなり高い。This computer has very high specs. However, its price is also quite steep.
As しかしながら is an emphasized form of the already formal しかし, you will most often encounter it in written contexts like literature, or during formal speech.
Examples
スマートフォンは非常に便利な道具である。しかしながら、仕事や勉強の妨げになることもある。
Smartphones are extremely useful tools. However, they can also interfere with work and studying.
健康についての記事：「定期的な運動は体に良いとされている。しかしながら、やりすぎは逆に怪我の原因となりうる。」
Article about health: 'Regular exercise is considered good for the body. However, overdoing it can conversely lead to injury.'
仕事の記事：「リモートワークは通勤時間がなく、多くの利点がある。しかしながら、孤独感を感じやすいという欠点もある。」
Article about work: 'Remote work has many advantages, such as eliminating commute time. However, it also has the drawback of making it easy to feel lonely.'
再生可能エネルギーのコストは年々下がっている。しかしながら、初期投資はまだ高額である。
The cost of renewable energy is decreasing year by year. However, the initial investment is still substantial.
栄養ガイド：「バランスの取れた食事のために野菜は不可欠だ。しかしながら、それだけでは必要な栄養素をすべて摂取することはできない。」
Nutrition Guide: 'Vegetables are essential for a balanced diet. However, you cannot get all the necessary nutrients from them alone.'
留学は素晴らしい文化体験になるだろう。しかしながら、新しい環境での生活は大きなストレスを伴うこともある。
Studying abroad can be a wonderful cultural experience. However, life in a new environment can also be accompanied by a great deal of stress.
記事：「SNSは遠くの友人とつながるのに役立つ。しかしながら、誤った情報が拡散しやすいという危険性もはらんでいる。」
Article: 'Social media is useful for connecting with faraway friends. However, it also carries the risk of misinformation spreading easily.'
パッケージツアーは旅行初心者にとっては安心で便利だ。しかしながら、自由な行動が制限されるという側面もある。
Package tours are convenient and reassuring for first-time travelers. However, there is also the aspect that your freedom of movement is restricted.
エッセイ：「大都市での生活は交通の便もよく、刺激的だ。しかしながら、家賃や物価が高く、経済的な負担が大きい。」
Essay: 'Life in a big city is exciting and has great transportation. However, rent and prices are high, making the financial burden significant.'
ペットを飼うことは生活に大きな喜びをもたらしてくれる。しかしながら、その命に対する責任は非常に重い。
Owning a pet brings great joy to one's life. However, the responsibility for that life is extremely heavy.
書評：「この本は歴史を学ぶ上で非常に有益だ。しかしながら、著者の個人的な見解が強く反映されている点には注意が必要だ。」
Book Review: 'This book is very beneficial for learning about history. However, one must be cautious of the fact that the author's personal views are strongly reflected.'
歴史から教訓を得ることは重要だとよく言われる。しかしながら、人類は同じ過ちを繰り返しがちである。
It is often said that it is important to learn lessons from history. However, humanity tends to repeat the same mistakes.